SmackDown Countdown 2007: Matt Hardy

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Who needs Lita? Not this guy.

By Greg Miller

Where were you seven years ago? Getting married? Flipping burgers? Eating paste? In a womb?

IGN was right here doing this.

This is the seventh year of IGN teaming with THQ to bring you an exclusive look at the Superstars of the latest WWE videogame. This year, we'll be detailing all 50 of WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2008's in-ring renegades -- legends, divas and the current brawlers -- in a one-a-day format leading up to our exclusive review. What can you expect on these pages as time goes by? Well, be on the lookout for stats, bios, videos, screens and much more as we get in-depth, hands-on time with these titles.

Who gets the Countdown spotlight today? Why, it's none other than Matt Hardy.

HEIGHT: 6'2"

WEIGHT: 225 lbs.

HOMETOWN:Cameron, N.C.

In the ring, Matt Hardy lives his motto: "I will not die." Time and time again he has sacrificed his body for both the enjoyment of the fans, and the sport which he has loved so dearly for his entire life.

Matt came to the WWE in 1998 as a tag team specialist, teaming up with his brother Jeff to form the appropriately named The Hardys. While severely undersized, The Hardys' outstanding chemistry and unmatched heart carried them to stardom. The Hardys went on to become five-time World Tag Team Champions in WWE before breaking up in 2002.

In 2003, shortly after joining the SmackDown roster, Matt Hardy pursued the Cruiserweight Championship. After struggling for weeks to make the weight limit, Hardy defeated Kidman for the Championship at No Way Out '03.

In 2004, Hardy was chokeslammed by Kane and sat at home for a few months. While Hardy was away, he learned that his long-time real life girlfriend, Lita, was having a sordid affair with Edge. Adding to an already emotional period, Matt was also released from WWE during the same time. It wasn't long before information regarding the personal hell Matt was experiencing became public knowledge. His faithful followers began to make their voices heard at WWE events across the country. In fact, Matt points out the crowd's reaction at Madison Square Garden at the April 12 Raw for starting his "movement."

Unable to simply sit at the sidelines while his heart was wrenching, Matt started popping up uninvited at WWE events, wreaking havoc on Edge and Lita every chance he had. He even called in and crashed Lita's Byte This! interview, confronting her about their tumultuous relationship. Not long after, Mr. McMahon said that Hardy was starting fires all over the place, and he couldn't help but to pour gasoline on those fires by re-hiring Matt.

After clashing with Edge on several occasions including a classic steel cage bout at the 2005 Unforgiven which saw Hardy defeat Edge following a daring legdrop from the top of the cage, Hardy and Edge would meet one more time in a ladder match at the Raw Homecoming in October 2005. The battle would result in the two bitter rivals' careers going in quite different directions. After taking Edge to the limit and nearing an end, Lita interjected herself in the match costing Matt not only the match but his spot on the Raw roster.

And so ends another day of IGN and THQ's SmackDown Countdown. Remember, all statistical attributes and other information is temporary until the game ships in November. If they change Kane's hometown to the moon or something, don't yell at us. Until the game is in your grubby paws, keep checking IGN for your daily dose of squared-circle information.